Rafa Very Clear On Why He’s Still At Newcastle

If Newcastle fans attending the games next season ever wonder if they make a difference at the club – think again.

Rafa Benitez has been very clear that the major reason he is still at Newcastle is because of the fans and the way they sing his name during the games.

Rafa has also been impressed with the Gallowgate Flags group, who have created some really impressive looking flags with Sir Rafa Benitez’ picture on them.

Rafa Benitez talking with Newcastle fans It’s clear the club is now recreating itself in the image of Rafa Benitez – and we just love it!!

Having a really good team and the club being well run on and off the pitch has been a long time coming.

This is what Benitez has told BBC World Service’s World Football program when asked why he decided to stay on at Newcastle.

“It was loyalty to the fans.” “The way that they were supporting us from the first day, even with the relegation.”

“The last game against Tottenham, we were already relegated, but then you have 52,000 fans turn up signing my name and supporting the team.”

“So it was like: ‘Oh, we have to do it, they deserve something more, and then we will try out best from day one to do our best to go back straight to the Premier League.’”

“We now need to change things because the Championship is very demanding, but it’s another type of competition.”

“The Premier League now is so difficult, with so many players that you have to improve the squad if you want to compete.”

“I think winning the Championship is a great achievement for all my staff, all my people, because it’s a very difficult league, it’s very competitive.”

“So I will put it in a very good position but I will not say it is better or worse than the others, because I appreciated those then and I enjoy all of them.”

“I found the league quite interesting as a manager.” “It’s very difficult; you play two games a week, sometimes three games in 10 days, and you don’t have time to recover.”

“It’s very physical, very demanding, and also the difficulty that you have is that if you for example play the Champions League and the league.”

“You go away during the week and you change the environment and you change everything.”

“But, when you play in the same country, the same type of teams and the same league, you don’t change and you don’t have time to change.”

“Then it’s very demanding physically and mentally, so it’s quite difficult for players and staff, but I think we did well.”

We did well is a real understatement – and Rafa put together a way that other clubs can follow when they are relegated and try to build a team that can get back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Sunderland are one of those clubs who could do that, but first of all they need to get some stability and recover from what’s been another terrible season for their fans.

The big advantage Newcastle had last summer was the fans were so upbeat when we were relegated, because Rafa was staying on.

Everything Rafa and the club did – the fans were right behind the manager.

That will continue this season in the Premier League as will the singing of Rafa Benitez’ name during the games.

Polls

Kacper Tylenda Website Designer

One of our avid readers Kacper Tylenda from Poland was the person who came in during April, 2017 and redesigned this web-site from top to bottom.

We think he did a fantastic job to modernize the site with the roll-out on Thursday May 18th surprisingly smooth.

I am so appreciative of his help.

Kacper is starting his own business in web-design so if you want a website built or know of people who want to redo their sites in any way – here’s his portfolio.

Transfers Summer 2017

Player

Fee

Club

INCOMING

Christian Atsu

£6.2M

Chelsea

Florian Lejeune

£8.8M

Eibar

Jacob Murphy

£10M

Norwich

Javier Manquillo

£4.5M

Atletico Madrid

Mikel Merino

£2.5M Loan – season

Borussia Dortmund

Kenedy

Loan – season – pending

Chelsea

Joselu

£5.0M

Stoke City

Transfer Fees In

£37.0M

OUTGOING

Vurnon Anita

Released

Aston Villa

Sammy Ameobi

Released

Bolton

Haris Vuckic

Released

FC Twente

Lubo Satka

Released

FC DAC 1904

Florian Thauvin

£10.0M

Marseille

Kevin Mbabu

£1.0M

Young Boys

Matz Sels

Loan – season

Anderlecht

Yoan Gouffran

Released

Goztepe

Adam Armstrong

Loan – season

Bolton

Lewis Gibson

£1.0M Up to £5M in add-ons

Everton

Daryl Murphy

£2.0M

Nottingham Forest

Ivan Toney

Loan – season

Wigan Athletic

Transfer Fees Out

£14.0M

Net Spend

£23M

Preseason Friendlies 2017

Club

Location

Date

Hearts Won 2-1

Tynecastle

Friday 14th July 7:45pm

Preston Drew 1-1

Deepdale

Saturday 22nd July 3:00pm

Bradford Won 4-0

Valley Parade

Wednesday 26th July 7:30pm

Mainz 05 Lost 2-1

Opel Arena, Mainz

Saturday 29th July 4:00 pm local time

Wolfsburg Won 3-1

AOK Stadium, Wolfsburg

Wednesday 2nd August 4:00pm local time

Hellas Verona Wopn 2-0

St. James’ Park

Sunday 6th August 3:00pm

football club

It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city. It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.